West Texas news in brief, 8/31

More than 22 works of Frederic Remington will be on display Sept. 21 to Dec. 8 at the Museum of the Big Bend on the campus of Sul Ross State University.

Remington is considered the most influential and important artist to portray the American West. The works are from the Frederic Remington Art Museum in Ogdensburg, N.Y., and include the bronze, "The Broncho Buster," and the never before toured painting of "The Charge of the Rough Riders."

The exhibit also will include a symposium featuring Remington scholars Peter Hassrick, Ron Tyler and Dr. B Bryon Price.

Opening weekend events include a Speakers & Sponsors Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Gage Hotel in Marathon. Tickets are $125 per person.

A lecture on Remington will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at the Vic & Mary Jane Morgan University Center at the university. Tickets are $50. The opening of the exhibit and a reception will follow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $50.

The Big Lake Economic Development Corporation will host its second community gathering at 7 p.m. Sept. 17 at the Reagan County Elementary School cafeteria.

The leadoff speaker will be Luke Legate, an independent consultant for the oil and gas industry, who will share how the communities in the Bakken and Eagle Ford shales adapted to their oil booms and survived.

Also speaking will be Bill Godsey, an independent geologist who has done extensive studies on the amount of fresh water and brackish water available in Reagan County. His presentation will cover the water resources available in the county and address the projected demand for these resources from various areas, including agricultural, industrial, municipal and oil and gas users.

A question-and-answer session will follow.

For more information, call the EDC office at 325-884-2288.

Big Spring

New leader named for state hospital

Lorie Dunnam has been named the new superintendent of Big Spring State Hospital. The announcement was made by Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey.

Dunnam served as the hospital's assistant superintendent and oversaw administration of the 200-bed facility. She also assisted former superintendent Ed Moughon in managing more than 625 employees and a $29 million a year operating budget. Moughon retired July 31.

Dunnam has 14 years of executive-level experience managing employees, human resources and therapeutic services. She holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Houston and a Masters in clinical psychology from the University of Texas of the Permian Basin.

Miles

Cotton festival on the horizon

The 36th annual Miles Cotton Festival will be held Sept. 13-14.

Events kick off Friday with the drink mix-off contest, the salsa (sauce) contest, and competitions for the best decorated cooler and the best decorated hat. All events are free to enter.

Saturday begins with the Miles Masonic Lodge pancake breakfast from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Weatherby Hall.

Arts and crafts and food booths will open in the City Park at 9 a.m., followed a downtown parade at 10 a.m.

A cook-off featuring brisket, chicken, ribs and beans will be held in the Miles Preservation Authority Park.

Other events include a cotton stalk contest, washer and horseshoe pitching, live entertainment, children's activities and inflatables, a noon meal at the historic Miles Opera House and barbecue sandwiches by the Miles Knights of Columbus.

The Miles Museum also will be open until 2 p.m. and the Miles Public Library will have an all-day book giveaway on the sidewalk downtown.

The Miles Cotton Queen contest will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Park.

A concert and street dance will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. Performers include Six Market Boulevard, Dolly Shine, Granger Smith and Roger Creager.

Advance tickets to the dance are $17 and available at Sturm's Tavern, Lowake Steakhouse and Schneider Distributing. Tickets are $20 at the gate. No glass bottles are allowed and there is no charge for coolers.

For information on the cook-off, call 325-468-3501. For arts and crafts, call 325-895-0296 after 4 p.m.